I know we’ve all heard it said, “Be consistent with your children.” I just wanted to put it out there because it is such an important reminder. I used to get a little annoyed when people would state the obvious with parenting tips….until I became a parent. Have I ever mentioned this is the hardest job ever? I know sometimes a blog like this can seem all happy faces and rainbows, but this is tough work. Being consistent is a tip that needs to be stated – even though it’s obvious – because it’s so hard to do in the tough moments. Sometimes, you want the fast, easier solution. However, like most things, easier isn’t always better. Sometimes it takes a lot of hard work up front to gain the results desired in the end. Consistency will give your children clear expectations. The structure and predictability of both praise and discipline will create an environment where they are not always guessing at what comes next. They eventually will try and get away with less because they’ll understand the consequences of their behavior.
Ooh, this one’s difficult, especially when you have more than 2 adults living under one roof (ie, grandparents)
It’s definitely challenging. It’s all in the job description. Can’t tell you how much a mess up, but we’re trying. I bet it is harder the more people you get involved. They can be a huge blessing to though.